Liam Lawson, the big opportunity
In just 11 Grands Prix, Liam Lawson convinced Red Bull to promote him as Max Verstappen’s teammate. A position that represents a bittersweet opportunity, as Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, and Sergio Perez can attest, all crushed by the Dutch ace’s speed. These are drivers who, before or after their Red Bull experience, proved to be competitive, but the chemistry between Super Max and the Milton Keynes car exposed them to constant humiliation.
Lawson will clearly be a second driver. His job will be to bring home points without attempting to compete with Max Verstappen, a move that would demoralize him. It’s no coincidence that Christian Horner and Helmut Marko admitted to choosing the New Zealander for his mental toughness. A choice that, according to Ralf Schumacher, is right but carries risks.
Ralf Schumacher’s words
“It’s obviously the right move, but it’s still dangerous. Max is too strong in this team, and that’s a big risk. On the other hand, Lawson only has this opportunity. He can stay in a small team forever, but if you want to drive at the top, you also have to compete with the best,” said the former Williams driver to Sky Deutschland. “Being Max’s teammate is a curse. Max Verstappen has been at Red Bull for so long, and the entire car is built around him. I think Lawson has a very modern driving style and will adapt, but the whole team is behind Verstappen, so he must be convincing right from the start. I believe he’ll be given half a season: if he proves himself, he’ll have a good place. But competing alongside Verstappen is a tough challenge.”
For Schumacher, Jack Doohan faces a similar fate at Alpine, not so much because of his teammate’s speed (who is still an excellent driver like Pierre Gasly) but due to the Australian’s own competitiveness: “In Formula 1, you don’t have much time. Many young drivers are waiting. I still can’t believe Jack has a contract. I think Flavio Briatore had something else in mind.”
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